Springbok side tweaked

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Springbok coach Jake White has made three changes to his team
for the Tri-Nations opener against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on
Saturday.

Last weekend South Africa beat the Wallabies 33-20 at Ellis Park
in the second match of the Mandela Challenge Plate but White has
decided to tweak his side as the Springboks begin the defence of
their title.

Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez returns at the expense of Ricky
Januarie in the only backline change, while in the scrum tighthead
prop CJ van der Linde replaces Eddie Andrews, who will attend the
birth of his second child.

Flank Solly Tyibilika drops out with Joe van Niekerk moving from
number eight to blindside and Jacques Cronje wearing the number
eight jersey.

Hooker John Smit will captain the team for the 19th time.

"We have shown consistency and continuity all the time by using
the squad," White said. "This does not mean for one minute that the
players who played last week ... are out of the mix.

"If I can use the analogy, if you are going to try and create
the best side you use a chisel and not a hammer. All the time we
are tweaking and trying to find the right combinations."

There is one change on the bench where hooker Gary Botha gets
his first chance to make his Test debut on his home ground in
Pretoria.

Botha has been part of the squad since the start of the
international season but previously has failed to make the match
22.

"Gary has been an absolute star in terms of his attitude, but he
understands he is the third choice hooker in this team," said
White. "He sits on the bench to the national captain which is not
an easy position to be in."

Australia has had off-field troubles this week with suspensions
and fines being handed out to four players after an incident in a
bar in Cape Town.

"Those things must have an effect on team," White said. "It
would be naive to think that it wouldn't because we are all trying
to prepare for a Test match."